ThesemenhadruntheblockadewhichhadnowdrawnitsstranglinglinealongthewholecoastoftheConfederacy；theyhadboardedtheTrentatHavana，andunderthelawofnationsweresafefromcapture。ButCaptainWilkesoftheUnitedStatesNavy，morezealousthandiscreet，overhauledtheTrentandtookoffthetwoConfederates。EverythoughtlessNorthernerwentwildwithjoy。Atlastthegovernmenthaddonesomething。EventheSecretaryoftheNavysofarforgothimselfastotelegraphtoWilkes“Congratulateyouonthegreatpublicserviceyouhaverenderedinthecaptureoftherebelemissaries。“[14]Chandlerpromptlyapplaudedtheseizureandwhenitwassuggestedthatperhapstheenvoysshouldbereleasedheatoncearrayedhimselfinopposition。[15]WiththetruculentJacobinsreadytoclosebattleshouldthegovernmentdoitsduty，withthecountrystillechoingtocheersforFremontandhissesforthePresident，withnothingtohiscreditinthewayofmilitarysuccess，Lincolnfacedacrisis。
Hewascarriedthroughthecrisisbytwostrongmen。Sumner，headandfrontofAbolitionismbutalsoagreatlawyer，cameatoncetohisassistance。AndwhatcouldathinkingAbolitionistsayafterthat!Sewardskilfullysavedthefaceofthegovernmentbyhismanagementofthenegotiation。TheenvoyswerereleasedandsenttoEngland。
Itwastheonlythingtodo，butChandlerandallhissorthadopposedit。TheAbolitionfuryagainstthegovernmentwasatfeverheat。WendellPhillipsinaspeechatNewYorkdenouncedtheAdministrationashavingnodefinitepurposeinthewar，andwasinterruptedbyfranticcheersforFremont。McClellan，patientlydrillinghisarmy，was，intheeyesoftheJacobins，doingnothing。Congresshadassembled。Therewaseverysignthattroubledwaterslayjustahead。
ThetemperanimatingHay’s“Jacobins“formedanewandreallyformidabledangerwhichmenacedLincolnatthecloseof1861。
Buthadhebeenanythingofanopportunist，itwouldhaveofferedhimanunrivaledopportunity。Foraleaderwhosoughtpersonalpower，thisragingsavagery，withitstripleallianceofanorganizedpoliticalmachine，adevotedfanaticism，andthewarfury，wasachanceintenthousand。Itledtohisdoorthesteedofmilitarism，shodandbridled，champinguponthebit，andinvitedhimtoleapintothesaddle。TenwordsofacquiescenceintheprogramoftheJacobins，andthedreadedroleofthemanonhorsebackwashistocommand。